Microsoft is serious about Linux support?
If this is not a sign then I do not know what else is. Computerworld has this article about Microsoft signing up three (3) big companies in its Linux support program. Yes, you heard me - Linux Support! When I first heard about the Microsoft-Novell deal, I was not quite sure they were serious. But now, It seems they are.
Two banks and an insurance company have accepted Microsoft Corp.’s offer of technical support for Novell Inc.’s SUSE Enterprise Linux. One of the three, Credit Suisse Group, has yet to use SUSE Linux, said spokeswomen at the two software vendors.
Novell and Microsoft announced a deal last month to “bridge the divide between open-source and proprietary-source software,” as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer described it. Under the deal, Microsoft promised not to file patent lawsuits against Novell customers. It will also spend $440 million on sales, marketing and license fees in support of Novell’s SUSE Linux distribution, according to documents filed by Novell with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The two companies will work together to help customers integrate their competing operating systems.
So what does this imply? Microsoft is going to bed with Novell and they agree to both support Linux. For now, Microsoft is not losing to Linux with this push. Most likely other operating systems are the ones loosing ground. Today, both companies are not discussing the IP issues. I believe they are just keeping the status quo in that space. The move seems good as it get this particular deal forward without giving up too much ground on both sides. However, how long before something else happens?
December 21st, 2006 at 10:18 am
Considering that Oracle has also hijacked Red Hat’s support business model, Microsoft thinking “hmmm… of those gazillions of Linux users out there, I can probably squeeze some money from them!” is not so surprising.
After all it’s Larry Co. who thought “let’s squeeze money out of all those Red Hat Linux users by offering them support at 1/4th what Red Hat charges!” as far as MS is concerned, Linux users are probably (at least medium-term) lost customers until their next big project or upgrade cycle. So if Bill Co. can somehow make some revenue off those lost customers, so much the better. It’s all about money.
There’s always something to be said for a big company “supporting” you. You get this warm and fuzzy feeling that you wouldn’t get from the Open Source community. Whether that warm and fuzzy feeling has any meaning, or it’s just Ballmer’s butt enveloping you, you will never know…
December 21st, 2006 at 10:22 am
And another thing, supporting Linux users (whether in a half-assed way or sincerely) leaves the door open to push Bill Co. technology at them on their next upgrade cycle. Even better if your Linux support somehow screws up but you manage to convince the users it’s the technology at fault and not your Microserfs..
As for Larry Co., I sincerely believe their Linux support boondoggle is actually sincere. Linux IS RELIGION in the belly of the beast. There actually is a global Oracle Binary Image for desktop Linux (based on RH AS4), on the same standing as the global OBI for Windows XP, and it is supported “encouraged” as an alternative desktop for the Larryites. So I would worry much less about Larry Co. deliberately screwing up their support to sour the customer on Linux.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:29 pm
the balmer butt analogy is pretty … shocking! but then again, they should not bad mouth certificates they distribute right?
as for larry and co., you work for them i will take your word for it. btw, lets revive an oracle developer community! i don’t mean forms developers i means javites! (nothing against forms i just like java more).